The Nationals’ sudden need for infield help prompted general manager Mike Rizzo to make a rare deal for a 2-month rental player on Thursday: Asdrubal Cabrera, who was acquired from the Indians for Zach Walters less than an hour before the 2014 non-waiver trade deadline.

Cabrera, 28, is a natural shortstop who was a two-time All-Star in 2011 and 2012, but he has experience playing second base, where he’ll most likely fit in with the Nationals. He has appeared at second in 162 career games, though not since 2009.

A switch-hitter, Cabrera owns a career .264 batting average and .737 OPS against right-handers, a significant offensive upgrade over Danny Espinosa, who has a career .215 batting average and .650 OPS against right-handers.

Rizzo cited Cabrera’s versatility as a large reason for making the deal.

“He’s a terrific two-way player. He’s a great defensive middle infielder who has been a terrific shortstop defensively,” he said.

“He played second base earlier in his career and played that outstanding. He’s a very balanced hitter from both sides of the plate, really just a big league hitter. We did a lot of work on his makeup and character before he gets into our clubhouse and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about him.”

Rizzo lauded Cabrera’s defense, though the 28-year-old does leave the Indians with the second-most errors in the American league with 14, most among AL shortstops. At second base he has been much better defensively with five errors in those 162 career games and a .994 fielding percentage.

Cabrera is owed roughly $3 million over the rest of the season, then becomes a free agent this winter, so he’s strictly a short-term rental player, something Rizzo has been reluctant to acquire in the past. The Indians, per terms of the deal, actually will pick up the rest of his contract.

But Ryan Zimmerman’s significant hamstring injury, suffered nine days ago, left the Nationals in need of some short-term infield help. Rizzo confirmed the impact of Zimmerman’s injury on making the deal before Thursday’s game against the Phillies.

“That factored into it. With a healthy Zim and a healthy eight players that we had, we certainly wouldn’t have found the need to go out and acquire a player as skillful as Cabrera,” he said.

“Like we’ve always said, we like the team that we have and when Zim went down, in order to protect ourselves we felt like we should go out and get ourselves a good veteran person to fit into the lineup.”

Williams echoed that sentiment:

“It’s important for us to get a guy like that if we can get a guy like that right now. We don’t know the extent to which Zim will be out, what kind of timeframe we are looking at.”

With Anthony Rendon now taking over at third base until Zimmerman returns (perhaps not until September), the Nats were left with Espinosa as their everyday second baseman. Now manager Matt Williams can go with Cabrera as his regular.

“It depends on the situation, but yeah,” Williams said. “He’s an everyday player. He is a guy that’s been in pennant races, he understands that. He understands the pressures of this time of year and getting to where you want to go. He will be a welcome addition for us and we’ll plug him right in as soon as we can get him here.”

Rizzo and Williams said Cabrera will play primarily at second base, but could give Ian Desmond days off at shortstop. The Nats general manager also mentioned the veteran’s playoff experience.

“I like that he’s battle tested, he’s been in the playoffs before, he’s been in pennant races,” Rizzo said.

Walters was well-liked in the Nationals’ organization and put up big power numbers at Class AAA Syracuse. But the 24-year-old infielder did little in his limited time in the big leagues, hitting .234 with three homers and 16 strikeouts in 43 plate appearances.

Walters was acquired in a 2011 deadline deal involving starter Jason Marquis, who went to the Diamondbacks. Now, three years and one day later, Walters has been swapped for a potentially valuable piece for the Nats as they get set for a tight pennant race.

Rizzo noted that turnaround in his comments on Walters.

“One thing that we have shown here is that there is no small trade. All trades are important to us. They can be characterized at the time you make them as a small deal, but sometimes the small deals turn into gold.”

The Nationals will still be able to add more pieces if they so choose, as the waiver trade deadline is not until Aug. 31. In 2012 they acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki in August and last year they brought in outfielder David DeJesus.

Rizzo did not rule out making another deal before the season is out.

“We’re still going to keep our eyes open and our options open. Whatever deal makes sense, we’re not afraid to make one.”

I believe you are right…If Danny hits a fly ball…or even a double play ball that scores a run, Rizzo may not make this move (maybe he does….maybe he doesn’t).
I think swinging at that first pitch in the dirt (was he not even WATCHING what the pitcher was doing in the prior at bats?), screamed to Rizzo that he needed to make a move…

This is pretty much a steal. Zach is a great kid but his glove just doesn’t play at the ML level.

jd - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:31 PM

Cleveland has mega prospect Francisco Lindor on the way so Cabrera was superfluous. He had 2 excellent years in 11 and 12. and is doing reasonably well this year. His defensive numbers aren’t good but he won’t be playing short stop for us so that might be ok.

laddieblahblah - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:20 PM

I agree. Not a big deal, but a big hole filled at a very low cost. Rizzo gave up practically nothing to get a 2-time All-Star rental who is still only 28, and he still has his late game defensive replacement should Matt want to do a late game pitching switch.

Maybe they sign him in the off-season, maybe not. Gives Rizzo options, which is where Mike likes to be. It will be a relief to see someone other than Danny coming to bat against RH pitchers.

Seems like a prudent move. Although, I would have liked to have seen Walters for an extended period starting at 2nd over the last week or so to determine what we might have in him. The ball seems to jump off his bat.

therealjohnc - Jul 31, 2014 at 5:10 PM

When he hits the ball, it jumps. As noted by Eno Sarris over at Fangraphs (in a link I think NatsLady posted in another thread) the bust rate on prospects Walters’s age with his K/BB at AAA is about 88%. Yikes.

I thought the Nats don’t do rentals? Cabrera is a FA after the season. You all know how I felt about Walters but Asdrubal Cabrera was #6 on the list of identifed infielders.

jd - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:36 PM

Not a sexy pick up but definitely plugs a hole in the lineup somewhat and this team is good enough to win the division as it stands so no need to trade away from a very short list of real prospects unless you can get a real difference maker.

I would have like Walters to start vs. RHP for the week and see what he could do. But Cabrera will help, he gets big hits, and should fit right in the way he strikes out too. Since I’m all about, anybody but Espi – so I like the move.

I’m ok with this at the moment….and possibly beyond. Do you think Rizzo might try to sign him to an extension and keep him as our 2b, with Zim taking over 1b and Rendon the everyday 3b next season? I realize he hasn’t played 2b since 2008 and may resist a permanent position change, but if he plays out the season (and post, knock on wood) at 2b, maybe he’ll be more willing if he’s with a contender and not the Indians.

The good news is he strikes out half as much as Espinosa. He has 40 RBIs this season. Can’t tell how many were on sac flies or ground-outs, but he is likely to be more productive than Danny with RISP because he puts the ball in play.

The strike outs for Danny and Desi have really been the most non-productive outs with RISP for the Nats, all season long. There should be a marked improvement from Cabrera, there.

The Indians are paying the entirety of the $3.33MM remaining on Cabrera’s deal, tweets MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian, who says that Cleveland is very high on walters.

A free rental….at least in terms of money…

letswin3 - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:49 PM

I said yesterday that it was possible that Walters played only that first day after coming back up because he was someone’s target for a trade before 4:00 today. I still thought he deserved an everyday trial for the week leading up to the trade deadline … the guy hits, and he hits for power. I’ll be watching Zacks development, and just hope that we didn’t get our pocket picked.

kirbs3256 - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:51 PM

Holy crap. Apparently Cole is paying his whole 3.3 mil remaining…..they are really high on Walters.

kirbs3256 - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:54 PM

Cleveland.

BombsOverNatsTown - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:52 PM

Yep, Cabrera is up at the end of the year. But the get him for “free” and talks with Desi on an extension are at an impasse. No problem here bringing in a two time all-star at the position to light a fire under those talks.

Price to the Tigers in a three team trade….Guess DD had to match moves by BB…..

sjm308 - Jul 31, 2014 at 3:58 PM

Walters might develop but it was pretty certain he wasn’t going to develop here.

For this season, I really like this trade since MW was not playing Walters much at all.

Was hoping we would get Miller from the Red Sox and I think Baltimore did a nice job with that pickup

I can’t remember following or being this excited about a trade deadline. I was on a bike ride down to G’Town and actually stopped to check on what had gone on. Nothing as I made the turn back to Bethesda but when I got to the car things had really started moving. As I get home, I hear about the Price deal. Pretty fun stuff and while we are not making headlines with what we did, so far Rizzo has given up very little to get a former All-star to help us the last few months of this season.

Walters might develop but it was pretty certain he wasn’t going to develop here.

I hope he has a successful career, he seems like a good kid. He’s definitely got pop if he can put things together.

letswin3 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:09 PM

I certainly don’t disagree that we needed help in Zim’s absence. I’m just questioning passing on a guy we developed into a 29 dinger AAA guy who hit 300 last year and this year there.

janebeard - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:13 PM

I was GLUED to the clock the years I was worried about losing Alfonso Soriano and Adam Dunn..,way before I wised up that Twitter would tell all and fast. This year, I paid less attention. I guess I worry more about who we lose than who we get. Backwards, I know. I did want Danny Murphy though.

natsfan1a - Jul 31, 2014 at 5:03 PM

Well, then I’m backwards, too, because I’m exactly the same way.

“I was GLUED to the clock the years I was worried about losing Alfonso Soriano and Adam Dunn..,way before I wised up that Twitter would tell all and fast. This year, I paid less attention. I guess I worry more about who we lose than who we get. Backwards, I know.”

Nvm walker isn’t involved. There has to be another piece going to TB though.

jd - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:16 PM

That would then make sense.

Nats fool - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:02 PM

Conservative trade. But it was a seller’s market. Should have made a splash at second in the offseason. Had Prado and Beltre as game-changers. We can’t win the WS with what we have. This won’t change that.

Hopefully those RISP numbers can improve in DC. They can be flukey. Just look at the Cards from last year to this.

masterfishkeeper - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:17 PM

Right. He’s got a .271 career BA with RISP. I wouldn’t sweat it.

therealjohnc - Jul 31, 2014 at 5:35 PM

Ghost, you’re just hunting things to be concerned about. You conceded earlier that his career numbers with RISP are much better – why would you think the 96 at bats this season are more predictive of future performance than his .745 OPS with RISP for his career?

adcwonk - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:18 PM

We can’t win the WS with what we have.

Phaw — anyone in the playoffs can win — it’s a crap shoot.

therealjohnc – Jul 31, 2014 at 11:06 AM

Remember in 2011 when the Phillies added Roy Oswalt to Halladay/Lee/Hamels to create the “Four Aces” rotation? They won 103 games – and got bounced in the NLDS. Didn’t even make it to the NLCS.

The 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116 games … and lost in the ALCS.

nats128 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:12 PM

Yankees got Martin Prado.

janebeard - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:13 PM

I’m glad he’s in the AL. Martin Prado is a Nats killer.

nats128 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:14 PM

I like this trade. Nats needed a 2nd baseman who could hit RHP. Bonus is that Assdrubal is a switch hitter. They dont give up much (Walters).

nats128 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:16 PM

Tampa Bay lost there minds. They gave David Price away for nuttin.

manassasnatsfan - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:18 PM

+1

jd - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:20 PM

I would hold the criticism until I know the full details. If Tampa got Tajuan Walker in the deal they did ok.

nats128 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:56 PM

They didnt. Nick Franklin did nothing in 2013 even tho he was 22. This year he was called up for 17 games and hit .188

Maybe pitchers who used to be on the Nats, but his OPS against the current staff is .534.

And the currents Nats have an OPS of 1.109 against Russell.

So I’m happy with the Braves’ moves.

Section 222 - Jul 31, 2014 at 4:28 PM

Franklin has only played 17 games in the majors so far. He slashed .294/.392/.455 in AAA in 75 game this year. He’s just 23. Tampa Bay must really like him and Smyly is a decent young lefty. He was the reason DD was willing to part with Fister.

Franklin’s game hasn’t worked yet at the MLB level but the Rays have supposedly coveted him for a while. They have done well before developing players. They also get A ball Willy Adames as the 3rd player in the deal with Drew Smyly.

Even when you say we win the division you have to say it negatively. Are you negative by nature. Iknow my wife says overly optimistic by nature, always assuming we will go 162-0 til we lose the first on than 161-1 etc.

Dodgers made no trades. That’s a swing and a miss on teams that didn’t get David Price. Tampa Bay wanted Taijuan Walker and in the end didn’t get him. Seattle gets Austin Jackson and only threw Nick Franklin into that 3 team deal.

Am I the only one intrigued by the fact he hasn’t played 2nd since 2009? Everyone’s kind of if ignoring that – not that it’s a huge switch and I assume he’s a 2b but does he get time at 3rd with Rendon at 2?

Well, I was going to be disappointed if we didn’t make a move to do something about 2B, and I was going to take a victory lap too because I didn’t think Rizzo was going to do it. So I was wrong about that. It’s not a blockbuster move, but it’s an attempt to address a glaring weakness. Who knows what was being asked for Utley, Beltre, and Murphy? If all the conversations started with Giolito or even Cole, then I can understand why they went nowhere. Walters was clearly expendable if he wasn’t even going to be given a tryout against RHP.

Not impressed by Cabrera trade. While there has been a lot of conversation about Walters’s defense there hasn’t been nearly enuf actual observation at the ML level. There’s no assurance he doesn’t grow, on defense, the way Desmond did. In the meantime, after leaking promiscuously hat they were looking for a high-minors middle-infield propspect they traded their best — maybe in a mediocre lot but the best of the bunch — high minors MI project. Guaranteeing that next year’s backup IFs will be Espinosa — if he doesn’t start — and one or two Frnasden-equivalents. Nothing to look forward to.

Section 222 - Jul 31, 2014 at 11:42 PM

prospect —> project. Freudian slip or intentionally clever elocution?

habs3 - Jul 31, 2014 at 5:51 PM

I love how all these experts including MZ say that Walters was not Major Level player. We don’t know because he was never given a chance . I have to sit and watch game after game as Hairston, McCouth, Espinosa , Lobaton, and Frandsen continue to flail away and yet they are given chance after chance. I recall that Desmond was not very good when he first. arrived. He was given every chance. Why MW did not play Walters so Rizzo could make an informed decision is beyond me.

MZ looses credibility when he says: “But the 24-year-old infielder did little in his limited time in the big leagues, hitting .234 with three homers and 16 strikeouts in 43 plate appearances.”

I bet he turned down 2 prospects for him and wanted more. He has always over-valued his own players.

He put together a World Series team and then felt like he wanted to keep them around until retirement.

rayvil01 - Jul 31, 2014 at 9:05 PM

He is going to get his wish. But not in the way he envisioned.

erocks33 - Jul 31, 2014 at 5:56 PM

I like this trade a lot. Walters was not going to break into the starting lineup in DC. Too many holes in his swing, and his defense is suspect (at best).

Cabrera is a rental. Pure and simple. Putting Cabrera at 2B is a bit of a risk, but I’d rather have him there than Frandsen right now. And I’d rather have him batting against RHP than Espi, every day of the week.

My feeling is that Cabrera was getting restless in Cleveland and that a change of scenery (and a *REAL* pennant race) will lift his play way up — much like the way Marco Scutaro was “All-World” when he was moved from Colorado to San Fran for their pennant race in 2012 (he practically doubled his OPS+ those last couple of months in SF and was a BIG factor in them winning it all).

Plus, Rizzo will keep one eye on how the he does (along with the rest of the team) these next couple of weeks and the other eye on the waiver wire. Can almost guarantee that if another piece is missing in that timeframe (bullpen, bench, big bat), Rizzo will get it.